In many of the professional education courses I took, I was introduced to a myriad of educational theories and philosophies. Although I could say that a lot of these theories have shaped my philosophy of education, none of them could come close to the Word of God, which is the foundation of all truth. It is where my educational philosophy is built upon as an aspiring teacher. I genuinely believe that all truth is God’s truth and that these truths come from one infallible source, the Bible. It has the sole authority over any ideology or conviction. Therefore, I am convinced that an indispensable part of my creed as a teacher is believed to be perennial in nature as I perceive the Bible to be an everlasting truth.
In an educational context, I believe the Bible should be integrated into theory and practice. It is to be a vital part of the curriculum content and the integrating factor around which all other subject matter correlated and arranged. It helps the learner build his biblical worldview so that when he is faced with the realities around him, he responds with “What does the Bible say about this issue?”, “What does God want me to do?”
Second, I firmly believe that family is the greatest among all educational institutions. It is in the home where a child’s education begins. Thus, his first school. Here, with his parents as instructors, he learns lessons that guide him throughout life such as lessons of respect, obedience, reverence, integrity, love for God, and others. Putting children in the care of a reputable school and paying high tuition fees is not a guarantee that they will have a good future. Sadly, schools and teachers are being blamed for not nurturing the values which should have already been taught in the home. However, regardless of the family’s class in society, family upbringing still weighs more than any honor, award, or diploma. Quality Christian education that begins at home is, by far, the greatest investment parents can give to their child.
Another aspect of my educational philosophy, which I believe is also biblical in nature is the understanding of the different learning styles and multiple intelligences as theorized by Howard Gardner. He suggested that all people not just have only one but different kinds of intelligence. Because God created each individual distinct from one another, I believe it is only fitting to say that each learner is also unique in his or her own special way, and therefore, learning activities should be strongly tied to his or her needs and interests. It is how learning ought to be – memorable, not memorized.
In one of our professional education courses, we were made to do a particular assessment activity wherein we had to read statements and rate them based on our educational convictions. This kind of test would somehow reveal what our general outlook of education would be. As the scores were calculated, results showed that my philosophy of education was mostly influenced by progressivist qualities.
Progressivism, as developed by John Dewey, finds its roots in present experiences. It emphasizes learning by doing, experiential learning and discovery learning and its relation to the real world. The progressivist curriculum considers the learners’ experiences, needs, and interests as it is strengthened by problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Contrastingly, progressivists opposed traditional education. They were against authoritarian teachers, textbook learning and rote memorization.
To sum up everything, I personally believe in the power that education can bring to an individual. However, that power is only dependent on the kind of education a person receives. This means that apart from quality Christian education, teachers also need to be facilitators of learning, not drill sergeants nor manipulators. His learners must also feel that they are being cared and loved. These can only be exemplified when he exercises complete submission to the One Great Teacher. Every educator or school leader should ask guidance from the Lord and the Holy Spirit in order to carry out an education that truly works for each and every learner. They should never think that they do not need to be taught by Him, for He is an ever-omniscient God who always knows what is best.
